Soft helmet for carrying sound attenuating earmuffs



Oct 24, 1961 J. A. AILEo 3,005,203

SOFT HELMET FOR CARRYING SOUND ATTENUATING EARMUFFS Filed Feb. l1, 19595 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAC/50N /l A E0 BY in )LM J. A. AlLEo3,005,203

soRT HELMET RoR CARRYING souNn ATTENUATING EARMUFFS Oct. 24, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet :2

Filed Feb. l1, 1959 INVENTOR. J/cwso/V /fo BYAL )L AUTOR/VEP J. A.Alu-:o 3,005,203

SOFT HELMET FOR CARRYING SOUND ATTENUATING EARMUFFS Oct. 24, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. l1, 1959 INVENTOR. d20/50M fo Y B Zw'a, M. @@M

3,005,203 SOFI HELMET FOR CARRYING SOUND ATTENUATING EARMUFFS Jackson A.Aileo, Carbondale, Pa., assigner to Leonard P. Frieder, Great Neck, N.Y.Filed Feb. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 792,625 3 Claims. (Cl. 2 3) This inventionrelates to ear coverings and ear pieces of the sound attenuating type,with or without ear phones and especially to apparatus for supportingsuch an ear piece in an operating position covering the wearers ear.

It is desirable to protect the ears of persons who are required to workin the vicinity of machines producing intense noises. This problem isparticularly acute among personnel required to work in the vicinity ofjet aircraft.

In order to provide such protection, it has been proposed to providesound attenuating housing structures which are typically rigid shells,and to mount those structures on a helment, a headband, or the like, sothatthey may be held fixed inplace over the wearers ears.

There is shown and described in the copending application for UnitedStates Letters Patent of Walter S. Finken and Jackson A. Aileo, SerialNo. 571,451, tiled March 14, 1956, now Patent No. 2,871,484, grantedFebruary 3, 1959, a close-fitting helmet which is adapted to supportearphones or the like in position over the wearers ears.

One of .the problems with any device for supporting ear pieces resultingfrom the necessity of an angular adjustment. The ear pieces arepreferably made generally ellipsoidal, so as to conform to the shape ofthe human ear. The relationship of the ear position to the skull contourvaries considerably from one person to another, so that an rates Patangular setting of the ear pieces in a helmet which is suitable andcomfortable for one person may not be suitable and comfortableforanother. j

An object of the present invention is to provide an irnproved means formounting an ear piece in a position where it effectively covers the earof awearer and prevents impingement of external sounds on the ear.

Another object is to provide an improved means for mounting an ear pieceon a helmet of the type described in the Finken et al. applicationSerial No. 571,451, mentioned above, including improved means forangularly adjusting the position of the ear piece relative to thehelmet.

A further object is to provide improved means for angularly adjustingthe position of any ellipsoidal ear piece relative to its supportingstructure. I i

The foregoing objects are attained by providing in a helmet or headcovering of flexible material, an aperture whose contour and peripheraldimension are substantially the same as the contour and peripheraldimension of the ellipsoidal housing of the ear piece. Suitable meansare provided on the housing for engaging the edge of the panel so as tohold the housing xed in position on the panel. Since the aperture in thepanel is'made elliptical, it fits the ellipsoidal housing in aparticular preferred angular position thereof, and tends to opposemovement of the ellipsoidal housing from that particular angularposition. The material of the side panelis sufficiently flexible,however, so that the housing may be moved, with only a slightapplication of force, away from its preferred angular position. In thenew angular position, some part of the panel will be bias stressedbecause of the lack of alignment between the' housing and the aperture.The bias stressed part of the panel will closely conform to andfrictionally engage the periphery of the housing, and will hold thehousing in its new angular position.

In certain species of the invention disclosed herein, the

which overlaps both the inner and outer margins of the inside the tapededge.

In either of the species described above, a resilient wire may be sewninside the tape.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the appended specification and claims, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational View of a helmet with an ear piececonstructed in accordance with the invention, mounted on the head of aperson;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, similar to FIG. l,showing the ear piece and the adjacent portion of the sidepanel of thehelmet;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the side panel of the helmetwith the aperture therein, and the ear piece removed;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line lV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a helmet embodying a modification of theinvention and mounted on the head of a person;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the modificationshown in FIG. 5; j,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-#- VII of FIG. 6;

FiG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the modification ofFIGS. 5 to 7, and partly broken away t0 reveal the wire construction;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 7,

illustrating a modification; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the modification ofFIG. 9.

FIGURES I to 4 There isshown in FIG. 1 a helmet generally indicated` bythe reference numeral 1, which may be constructed as attached along thelateral portion of the zone 2. A tape 4 extends around the periphery ofthe helmet, and a strip 5 covers the wearers forehead below the tape 4.

The side panel 3 is provided with an opening 3a, whose unstressedcontour is generally elliptical, as seen at 3a in FIG. 3. This openingis positioned in the side panel so as to be aligned with an ear of thewearer when the helmet is in place on the head. A tape 6 is sewn. overthe edge of the opening 3a by means of a row of stitching 7. As shown inFIG. 4, the tape covers both the inner and outer margins of the panelaround the opening 3a.

Inside the opening 3a there is inserted an ear piece 8,

. comprising a rigid casing of generally ellipsoidal contour,

preferably of molded plastic material, and best seen in FIG. 2. As shownin detail in FIG. 4, the ear piece 3 comprises an inner shell 8a and aconforming outer shell 8b bonded together. The inner shell Sa isprovided with a peripheral flange Sd and the outer shell 8b has asimilar peripheral flange Se. The flanges between them define a channelindicated by the reference numeral 9 for receiving the taped edge of thepanel 3 around the opening 3a.` The contour and peripheral dimension ofthe aperture 3a should be substantially the same as the contour andPatented Olot. 24, '.1961y edge. ef.. theme91. may be mede telit Statelyagainst thevv ear ,ee throughout the perphelv f. the eat, nieee andQltlie epertute'a- 1t these Conteur and. dimensional. relationships aremaintained, the. snug frictional tit betweenthle tape= 7 and theA sidesofn the channel Slrwill main.- tain the ear piece fixed in any angularpositionI in which it.v is S61@ Furthermore, the ear piece l8 may belrotated from the position shown in iull lines` in FIG. 2 to. any otherangular position, for example, the position shown by thedot-dash line inFIG. 2. ThisI rotation is` aecomf. plishedA simply-by holding the panel13, and rotating the ear piece 8. The frictional engagement between thepanel 3 and the ear piece 8 will allow such rotationby theappliqationtof ya: moderate force.

When. the Panel 3 and the.. ear peee. 8; are. relatively n 'otated away"from their preferred angular positions.

tionally engages the periphery of the housing and holds the housingzinitsnew angular position. Consequently,

the ear piece S may be set and will stay in any desired.

angular. nesitlee with respeet te the. Panel. 31-

Illeteafl, 0f. having thein'ner Shell Se andthe Outer Shell 8b closelyconforming throughout their central portions,J

as; shown in the drawing, they/ mayl beprovided with a dead air spacebetween the two shells. Alternatiyely,that spacez may` befilled withsome soundvdeadenlngmeans, such as a chemical foam of the vinyl orpolyurethanetype.Y As another alternative, itmay` be desirable to lillthat space. with some material having a large inertial mass,V such as alead compound or. lead film,

The helmet l is. provided withA a Chiu strap il, for holding the sidepanels 3 tightly against the, we arers head. backstrap 1 2.A isy alsoprovided "which extends from a point under'the tape 4 at the front ofthe helmet over the ear piece 8 and the panel. Apsize take-up mechanismis provided in the strap l2, This strap further assists la haleine thepanel Slendtlte eereieee innrener alien- These figures, illustrate aslightly modified form of helmet andamodified form of attachment of anear piecel toJ the helmet. A helmet 13 of` FIG. 5 comprises two centralzones 14 and two` sidepanels. 15. Two ear pieces 155 are mounted on theside panels l5. A chinstrap 17 is provided for holding theside panels 15 tightly engage ment- With the Wearers. head.

Each of the side panels lis provided witha circular` opening 15a, bestseen in FIG. 8. The marginal portions ofthe openings 15a are covered bya tape l5 held in place v by alprpw of stitching 19. Inside the tape isinserted a resilient circular wire Ztl which tends to hold the peripheryof the4 opening 15in. in n a circular; contour, ,eyen

though'it is c utwith an elliptical contour as in FlG. 3. T hejdiameterofthe circleformed by the wire Ztl ismade slightly larger than thediametervofthe opening 15a when the panellS sunstressed, B yvirtueofthat arrange-` 'monaca which preeeteeut-,etthenlene et thenanel l5..See.-y

Thewirezt) and vthevmaterial offthepanel 15a yrnay be bent and stressedsouthat they fit` closely theA periphery 4 23, having one long leg andone short leg, and a screw 2 4 extendingthrough an aperture in the longleg of the bar 23 and threaded into the housing 21. The short leg of theclamp 23 extends over the flange formed by the tape lf and the Wire 20tl'iereint, and;l holds the tape 13 tightly in engagement with:theperiphery of the ear piece.` 21.

The angular position of thev ear piece 211. relative to the panel 15'may be. changed by loosening thetscrews 24 so that the tape 17S.enclosingthe wire 20 may slip freely under the clamp barsM 2 3.' Afterasuitable angular adjustment is attained; the screws 24 may again betightened,` The eer. piece. 2.1 may be.. nrovidedwth a sound attenuationnad 25. er, other. similar mechanism. for resiliently andlsnuglyengaging the sideof, thepwearers. head around the entire. periphery ofthe ear,-

vThe Structures` disclosed herein. areV extremely light. in weight, yetthey provide fixed angular adjustmentof. the ear pieee,swhieh.nevertheless mail he. modified. atwillby thewearer..

FIGURES.: 9. and.. 1,0.;`

'lghesefigures illustrate a modification ofltheinvention which isgenerally similar to that shown in FIGS; lv tot, 4 but in which the backstrap 12j is eliminated. =In FI'G`. 9,I the earpiece S of FIG.v 1` `isreplaced byan ear piece gentlally indicated at 26j and comprising'auyellipsoidal shell 27 having a ange 27a on its head-engaging side. As inEjGj. 7., a sound atteuuating padA 2,8 is providedgfprl resiliently andsnugly engaging the wearersg head aroungl the entire periphery oftheear. Thepad 2.3 is fixed to the ange 27a byv any suitable means.

On` the outside ofthe shell 27; spaced.outwardly from, the flange 27a,thete are provided' a pair oft spacedfpareallel' flanges 2712deliuingfbetween` themr a channel 27C for receiving; the edge ofiV` apanel 29 Whichrcorresponds; generally to the panel 3of'FlG. l. The:panelr29 is-'pi'ovided witha central aperture ofielliptical contour. The

edge ofthe aperture isy coveredv by atape Sil, corresponding to the tape@of FIGS. ltoA. T hepanelg 29 isgconstructed somewhat differently thanthe panel 3 of;"EIG.-.l When the helmet 31. of which the panelv 29' isVa part; is mounted on the wearers head',vthe peripheral' edges' ofn thepanel are heldin close engagement lwith therhead'by; thel other partsofj the helmet structure. The central` portion ofthe panel 29 is held'away from the wearers head by the flanges 27b1on the shell 27. Thepanel29 is., therefore stretchedoutwardly at its central portion. The.panel 29 andthe connection between the panel and the shell 27 performthe function of the back strap 12 ofi FIG. l. That is to say, Ythe panel29 iseffectiveto hold the cushion 28in snug engagement With the wearershead.. The back strap 12` mayv be eliminated:

If desired,l a wire such as the wire 20' of FIGS; 7 and 8" maybeusedinside the tape 30 ofFIG. 9. Suchawiro. may also be usedinside thetape 6 of'FIG. 4.

While I'have shown and describedcertain preferred, embodiments vofymyinvention, other modifications there-r of `will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art andl` therefore intend mtyinventionto belimitedonlyby the. appended claims.

lIlelaim:

l, A helmet. adantedoover theheadrotthe, wearer. comprising. atleastoneSide paneLof, flexible. woven. materialgadaptedjto engage the side ofthewearers.head, said panel having an aperture ofgenerallyy ellipticalperipheral contoupdisposed adjacent the wearers` ear` when, rthe helmetisminA place on the. headan earpiecehaying a; rigid generallyellipsoidalwcasing adapted to, cover the A weerers. eary andprovded. at.the side .thereetitewardthe ear; withA an .Opening ce.rr 1n1uni.caulne` with the ear, the exterior: surface of said casing,alongV a.peripheralA dimenfsion thereof generallyparallel to and adjacentl the:sidefof.. the` wearers headbeing of.,generally ellipticalycontour, saicl casing carrying.` exteriorly thereofA spaced; flanges..illteslally;v termed.i therewith.;l and.; defining therebetween;

and with said exterior surface of said casing along said peripheraldimension a channel extending about said casing generally parallel toand adjacent the side of the wearers head, said channel receivingtherein the edge portion of the panel adjacent and along said ellipticalperipheral contour of said aperture of said panel, said peripheraldimension of said casing along said channel between said ilanges beingsubstantially equal to the peripheral dimension of said aperture of saidpanel, the portion of said panel along the periphery of said aperturebeing slidable in said channel relative to said casing to adjust theangular position of said casing with respect to said side panel, saidmaterial of said side panel being substantially inelastic butsufliciently exible and capable of being bias stressed adjacent saidaperture therein to permit said sliding movement of said portion of saidpanel in said channel between said langes while providing snugengagement of said portion of said panel with said exterior surface ofsaid casing so as to cooperate with said casing and said flanges to holdthe casing in any adjusted angular position.

2. A helmet as defined in claim 1 which comprises a tape folded over themarginal portions of and upon both surfaces of said panel along theperiphery of said aperture, and stitching fastening said tape to bothsurfaces of said panel, said taped marginal portions of said panel beingreceived in said channel of said casing.

3. A helmet adapted to cover the head of the wearer comprising at leastone side panel of ilexible material adapted to engage the side of thewearers head, said panel having an aperture of generally ellipticalperipheral contour disposed adjacent the wearers ear when the helmet isin place on the head, an ear piece having a rigid generally ellipsoidalcasing adapted to cover the wearers ear and provided at the side thereoftoward the ear with an opening communicating with the ear, the exteriorsurface of said casing along a peripheral dimension there of generallyparallel to and adjacent the side of the wearers head being of generallyelliptical contour, said casing carrying exteriorly thereof spacediianges integrally formed therewith and defining therebetween and withsaid exterior surface of said casing along said peripheral dimension achannel extending about said casing generally parallel to and adjacentthe side of the wearers head, said channel receiving therein the edgeportion of the panel adjacent and along said elliptical peripheralcontour of said aperture of said panel, said peripheral dimension ofsaid casing along said channel between said flanges being substantiallyequal to the peripheral dimension of said aperture of said panel, theportion of said panel along the periphery of said aperture beingslidable in said channel relative to said casing to adjust the angularposition of said casing with respect to said side panel, said materialof said side panel being substantially inelastic but suiiciently exibleand capable of being stretched adjacent said aperture therein to permitsaid sliding movement of said portion of said panel in said channelbetween said flanges while providing snug engagement of said portion ofsaid panel with said exterior surface of said casing so as to cooperatewith said casing and said flanges to hold the casing in any adjustedangular position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,468,267 Mondl Apr. 26, 1949 2,690,563 Wilson Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,119,404 France Apr. 3, 1956 1,122,622 France May 2S, 1956

